Lahore [Pakistan], October 3 : Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Friday ruled out tendering an apology over her recent remarks that triggered a rift between her party, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), and its coalition partner, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Dawn reported.
The dispute between the two parties, which began over flood compensation, later widened to water rights on the Indus River. According to Dawn, the PPP leadership asked Maryam to reconsider her tone during a meeting in Islamabad earlier this week, after the Punjab CM told them to keep their advice to themselves.
In response, the PPP boycotted sittings of the National Assembly and Senate.
Addressing a ceremony in Lahore, Maryam lashed out at the PPP for what she termed wrongful criticism of the Punjab government amid devastating floods.
"When floods swept through Punjab, the people of one province not only wrongly criticised the Punjab government, but they also rubbed salt in the wound," she said.
"If there is any issue in any province, do we level false allegations at press conferences? Do we spread lies? What we do is help them."
Maryam further stated that she had reached out to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur to offer assistance despite political differences.
"Those in other provinces are my Pakistani brothers and sisters; whenever a CM likes a project I've done and asks me for the technology, I immediately send a minister and secretary. So when people say that I celebrate anything bad happening in another province, it is upsetting," Dawn quoted her as saying.
She also criticised PPP leaders Asif Ali Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, saying she was disheartened by their remarks during Punjab's crisis.
"I want to tell Asif Ali Zardari and Bilawal that I was upset when the people of Punjab were in distress. We saw Bilawal doing those three press conferences, where he mocked Punjab and spread lies that things were not being done," she said.
"I am not going to leave my people alone. If you talk, I'll respond befittingly."
Rejecting the demand for an apology, the Punjab CM questioned PPP's walkouts from parliament.
"That spokesperson who criticised the Punjab government and politicised the suffering of Punjab's people is the one who needs to apologise," she said.
"If I respond to anyone, I raise my voice for my people. Maryam Nawaz Sharif will never apologise."
The chief minister also spoke about the shelved canals project, which had become a fresh source of discord between Punjab and Sindh.
"That water is the right of Punjab's farmers, but it was politicised," she said.
Maryam added that she had presented Punjab's case before the Council of Common Interests and was ready to fund the canals project, Dawn reported.
On the controversy surrounding YouTuber Rizwan Razi, who made derogatory remarks about Sindh, the Punjab CM clarified her position.
"He said something inappropriate and I cannot endorse it. Even he realised it. He was summoned to a Senate standing committee, where he apologised unconditionally. When someone apologises, you forgive them, right? But these people made fun of him. Still, I remained silent. However, I will not let this happen to another person in Punjab," she said.
Maryam concluded her remarks by stressing the dignity of Punjab's people.
"Punjabis love their land and the people's self-respect was also my responsibility. Think 100 times over before talking negatively about Punjab," she said.
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